Wireless Watch

Iliad may take major stake in Ireland’s Eir

Xavier Niel, chairman and majority shareholder in France’s Iliad group, is in talks to take a controlling stake in Ireland’s fixed/mobile incumbent, Eir, through his investment vehicle, NJJ Capital, according to reports in the Irish Times. That should make the other Irish MNOs, Vodafone and 3 Ireland (which acquired Telefonica’s O2 Ireland), quiver. Both those operators are already bracing for the disruptive impact of Iliad in Italy, where Niel is looking to repeat the disruptive success of Iliad’s Free Mobile launch in France, which has provoked price wars and consolidation. Iliad acquired spectrum in Italy which had to be divested as a condition of Hutchison 3’s acquisition of Wind. Now it may have its eyes on Ireland. Eir, the fixed…